THESE CHILDREN COULD BE REFUGEES

CONFLICT, CLASS & CLIMATETHE 1951 REFUGEE ACT

According to Article 1 of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, a refugee is someone who has fled his or her country “owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion.” While the 1951 Convention remains the key legal document defining who is a refugee, their rights and the legal obligations of governments, the world has changed dramatically over the past six decades, and so have the dynamics of displacement.

The reasons for displacement today are far more complex than those envisaged under the 1951 Convention, and the distinctions between refugees and economic migrants, voluntary and involuntary movement have become increasingly blurred. Displacement is also caused by environmental factors such as the acceleration of drought, desertification, the salinization of ground water and soil, and rising sea levels, leading to cross-border movements that place a strain on the resources of host countries.

The URGC recognizes that the absence of economic development, which can be exacerbated by conflict, contributes to the international refugee crisis, which includes refugees who are trying to escape severe socio-economic deprivation. While some may be escaping persecution, many leave because they lack any meaningful option to remain. The lack of socio-economic infrastructure which leads to lack of food, water, education, health care and a livelihood, would not ordinarily sustain a refugee claim under the 1951 Convention. Nevertheless, some of these who become displaced with families can directly and indirectly fall within the criteria of a refugee under the 1951 Act and may need some form of protection. Humanitarian support agencies such as UNHCR & UNRWA are expected to respond under the auspices of the 1951 Convention. Such agencies find themselves over-stretched, having to improvise to find solutions to save lives. The URGC recognizes the enormous crisis that the international humanitarian community presently faces and will continue to face if sustainable solutions are not found. URGC believes that we have a civic responsibility to assist such agencies, where and if we can, in finding innovative solutions.

URGC SUPPORTS THE UN MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 10 PRINCIPLES

The URGC has formulated Sustainable Solutions to meet the emergency accommodation, permanent accommodation, water, sanitation, electricity, education, health and socio-economic crisis that UNHCR, UNRWA and the world presently faces

SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM SOLUTIONS THAT CAN BE APPLIED BY GOVERNMENTS & THE UN

These are sustainable solutions consulted & coordinated by the URGC in order to contribute to resolving the emergency refugee accommodation crisis, refugee permanent accommodation crisis, health, education and overall socio-economic crisis.

Ethical Note -URGC’s assessed and approved building and construction services which apply the most efficient and sustainable techniques and methods in order to provide humanitarian and or voluntary green solutions to the shortage in physical infrastructure which besets the current refugee crisis globally. While URGC’s humanitarian program includes these solutions at the core of its service, we are not political advocates for green solutions in education, health or other related social programs. URGC humanitarian programs work within international and national legislative parameters which prioritize the interests and needs of displaced people. In most cases where an educational, health or other social program is offered and applied, the URGC will strive to assess the green efficiency of the buildings which house them.

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO THE REFUGEE CRISIS WITHIN REFUGEE SETTLEMENTS IS JUST ONE OF THE SERVICES URGCOFFERS. ASSISTING PEOPLE WHO HAVE BECOME REFUGEES DUE TO CONFLICT, CLIMATE & SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS TO RETURN AND RECLAIM THEIR HOMES AND LIVES IS ANOTHER MAJOR CHALLENGE. URGC HIGHLY SUPPORTS RESETTLEMENT PROGRAMS

THERE ARE ECONOMICAL REALISTIC SUSTAINABLE GREEN SOLUTIONS

URGC CAN CONSULT ON SUCH SOLUTIONS

,URGC is a not for profit, non governmental independent voluntary and humanitarian organization non-aligned or part of any government, political or religious group. URGC is an advocate for Equality and does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation or disability.

Public Notice 1: URGC is not a Government Agency, UN Agency or European Commission Agency. Any mention of such Agencies in this website is only in reference to our lobbying and mission.Public Notice 2: URGC does not sell any product or membership or service to the public nor requests any public donations, URGC has no facility to receive public money/funds so please do not offer funding or donation to URGC. If you wish to make donations please do so directly to the UN aid agencies or other reputable aid charities of your own free choice.